Waste disposal apparatus



Nov. 5, 1940. w. Q'GROENIGER 0,33

WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l3 INVENIOR W\\ \am QGr'oemger K HI RNEY Nov; 5, 1940. w. c. GROENIGER WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS Filed Dec. 31, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Wilhm CGmemger Patented Nov. 5, 1940 WASTE DISPOSAL APPARATUS William 0. Groeniger, Columbus, Ohio, assignor to John B4 Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y;,

a corporation of New York Application December 31, 1937, Serial No. 182,753

5 Claims. (c1. 4-89) v This invention relates to waste disposal apparatus of the type combining a suitable receptacle for the reception of waste material with liquid supplying and directing means for flushing the 5 received waste from the receptacle.

The invention is particularly applicable to deiecators, i. e., water closets, wherein a closet bowl serves to receive excrement, and flushing liquid, supplied from a suitable source, accomplishes disposal of the received waste material.

Hereinafter, the invention will be described with specific reference to its embodiment in defecators, wherein it will undoubtedly find its greatest field of use, but the structural and functional features noted as outstanding may be had with equal effectiveness in other types of apparatus embodying similar problems, by following the generic concepts here taught.

The usual bowl of a defecator combination is of integral construction formed from vitreous china to include passages for the supply of flushing liquid. The character and disposition of such passages in the bowl proper differ depending upon the particular type of flushing action desired.

Uniformly, however, the practice has been to form, in addition to other required passages, a fiush or rim-fiow-channel integral with the upper peripheral edges of the walls which define the top opening of the bowl.-

Pursuant to a preferred structural combination contemplated by the present invention, the use of a closet bowl having no passages therein for the supply of flushing liquid, is made possible, Accordingly, manufacture of the closet bowl is greatly simplified with coincidental reduction in cost, great decrease in the percentage of defective articles, and simplification of maintenance of the bowl in sanitary condition. In addition, the bowl may be fabricated from a variety of materials including sheet metals.

In providing flushing means for a closet bowl of the above type, an independent fiow-channel-providing structure is associated with the closet bowl, preferably adjacent the periphery of its top opening, and located at a clearance above the highest point to which the flushing liquid can possibly rise in the bowl. The fiow-channel-providing structure is connected, in flow receiving communication, with a source of supply of flushing liquid, and advantageously has such configuration and disposition relative to the bowl as to adapt it for service per se as a defecator seat. In such capacity, the fiow-channel-providing structure can conveniently and adequately provide the '55 quantity of flushing liquid necessary for complete flushing of the closet bowl. For this purpose, the defecator. seat is connected, and desirably plvotally connected, with the source of supply of flushing liquid. I

The fiow-channel-providing structure orde-. 5

'fecator seat includes nozzle openings so placed as to direct jets of flushing liquid in the manner required for accomplishing complete and eflicient flushing of the closet bowl, and because of its preferred pivotal connection, the defecator seat may 10 be raised to render the otherwise inconveniently placed nozzle openings accessible for inspection, cleansing, and repair.

Valve means are associated with the source of supply or flushing liquid for the control of flow of 15 flushing liquid to the flow-channel-providing structure. Desirably, such valve means comprises a manually operable valve for initiating and terminating the flow of flushing liquid, and an adjustable control valve for regulating flow :0 characteristics.

The source of supply of flushing liquid is advantageously a storage tank associated with the closet bowl and adapted to store a supply of flushing liquid above the normal level of liquid in the 25 closet bowl. In this case, it is advantageous that an overflow passage be provided in the storage tank having its discharge end in communication with the interior of the bowl proper.

A highly practical defecator construction is had 80 by providing a shelf portion for the closet bowl extending rearwardly from the top opening thereof, such rearwardly extending shelf portion forming a mounting for the storage tank, which rises thereabove. Pursuant to this construction, 35 the storage tank is formed with a bottom recess which extends substantially coextensively with the bottom of the storage tank and provides free space for piping connections. A combination flush fitting and anchor bolt may be utilized ad- 40 jacent the central portion of the bottom recess for securing the storage tank to'the stated shelf of the closet bowl, and for establishing communication with the'hollow fiow-channel-providing defecator seat of the closet bowl through the medium 5 of connecting conduits. The forward portion of the storage tank desirably projects over the rear portion of the top opening of the closet bowl, and has an overflow passage formed therein, the discharge end of the overflow passage being dis- 50 posed over and in direct communication with the top opening of the closet bowl.

From the above, it is apparent that the present invention not only enables the utilization of a closet bowl without passages therein for the supsiderable economy in production, but also provides a most advantageous and novel combination of defecator structural characteristics, in attaining suitable operation of a defecator as a whole.

Further features and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings,

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of a preferred embodiment of this invention, in which a storage tank for the supply of flushing liquid is associated in a most practical and advantageous manner with the closet bowl and defecator seat, the top cover being shown removed from the storage tank;

Fig. 2 represents a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 represents a fragmentary. horizontal section taken on the line 3-3, Fig. 2, onan enlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 represents a view taken on the line L-l, Fig. 2, such view illustrating the storage tank in front elevation and the closet bowl and defecator seat in vertical section.

Referring to the drawings: a closet bowl is indicated at ID, the same being illustrated for convenience, with its bottom portion, which embodies well known structural characteristics of no importance to the disclosure of this invention, broken out. A primary feature of the illustrated closet bowl is its lack of liquid supply passages. The bowl upper portion, indicated at Illa is single walled, without the usual flush rim or rim-flowchannel for the supply of flushing liquid; and the remaining walls of the bowl, inclusive of those forming the well portion, indicated generally at liib, are without the conventional channels for supply of main jets of flushing liquid.

The bowl structure per se is advantageously of wholly integral vitreous china construction, and, by reason of the elimination of the usual complex system of passages for the supply of flushing liquid, may be manufactured with considerable economies over and above the conventional type of closet bowl. Also, because of its simplified structural characteristics, the closet bowl may be fabricated from metal or a variety of other materials.

In the illustrated instance, the closet bowl I is provided with a shelf lilc extending rearwardly from the top opening, ll, of the bowl. Such rearwardly extending shelf inc advantageously extends laterally over substantially the width of the closet bowl, see Figs. 1 and 3, and merges into the bowl structure proper symmetrically, along rectilinear lines, to form shelf portions, Hid, lild, integral with the wall of the bowl per se and with the shelf I00. The rearwardly extending shelf I00 advantageously forms a rear recess, see l2, in the bowl structure above the evacuator formation lile, such rear recess I 2 being open at least at the back for a purpose to be hereinafter made clear.

The closet bowl I0 is adapted for liquid flushing, and for the maintenance of a body of liquid l3, 1. e., the liquid trap seal, in its well portion for the reception of excrement and other waste materials. The body of liquid I3 is normally maintained at a level l3a, see Fig. 2, by means of the dam or weir, lflf.

For the accomplishing of the flushing of the closet bowl, the flow-channel-providing structure, independent of the closet bowl but associply of flushing liquid, which in itself affords con-.

ated therewith, is connected in flow receiving communication with a source of supply of fl ushing liquid.

The flow-channel-providing structure advantageously takes the form of a hollow defecator seat, indicated at H, hingedly connected in flow receiving communication with the source of supply of flushing liquid. The defecator seat ll rests on the upper surface of the rim of the closet bowl, being cushioned in its support by bumpers l5 of rubber or other suitable resilient material, and encircles the closet bowl in such manner that a fair proportion of its peripheral area extends inwardly above the top opening H of the closet bowl. Nozzle openings [6 are provided in the under wall of the defecator seat I4. They are provided in such number and disposed in such manner as to eflect eflicient and complete flushing of the closet bowl; desirably, they are disposed at an angle to the vertical for causing vortical movement of the contents of the bowl. They may be aligned in rows running around the defecator seat, and two or more rows may be provided, the nozzle openings of respective rows being directed at different angles to the vertical. The exact number and disposition of the nozzle openings, however, are not important so long as they are adequately provided for efficient cleansing and flushing of the particular closet bowl concerned.

It is to be noted that, for the purpose of eliminating all possibility of any syphonage from the bowl into the liquid supply passage, the flowchannel-providing structure or defecator seat is supported with its flush liquid supplying nozzle openings at a clearance above the maximum overflow spill level of the bowl, 1. e., the highest possible level to which the contents of the bowl might rise before the fluid contents thereof would spill over the bowl rim.

The source of supply of flushing liquid may be a fiushometer valve of the customary construction communicating with the usual water main, but is advantageously a tank for the storage of flushing liquid, usually water. At I1 is indicated a storage tank mounted on the rearwardly extending closet bowl shelf Iilc and rising thereabove. It is noted that the tank is thus adapted to store flushing liquid above the normal level |3a of liquid in the bowl.

The storage tank I! as illustrated is of vitreous china construction molded to form a bottom recess l8 between the bottom wall Ila of the storage compartment and the bottoms of the side walls of the tank which depend below the bottom wall Na in the manner of a skirt.

The bottom recess l8 provides free space for the reception of anchoring means and certain of the piping connections.

As illustrated, the storage tank I! is desirably anchored to the rearwardly extending shelf lllc of the closet bowl by means of a combination flush fitting and anchor-bolt, indicated generally at l9, which cooperates with a tubular coupling 20 secured thereto by screw threading. The coupling 20 fits into a suitably povided orifice in bottom wall "a, and has an outwardly flared mouth 20a which bears down upon the bottom wall Ila of the tank upon proper adjustment of the securing nut I9a on the anchor-bolt portion of the combination fitting [8. A yieldable, water proof washer 2|, desirably of rubber, is interposed between the flaring mouth 20a and the defining edges of the stated orifice to act both as a cushion and as a seal for the liquid contents of the tank. For purposes of uniform distribution of its cooperative coupling 20 are provided substantially centrally of the horizontal extent of the storage tank.

Any suitable means for supplying flushing liquid to the storage tank l1 may be employed. Since such does not form a part of the present invention, it is not illustrated. The flaring mouth 20a of tubular fitting 20 provides a seat for any suitable type of valve, such as the manually op-' erable drop valve indicated generally at 24, for controlling initiation and termination of liquid flow through the combined fittings l9 and 20. A port, 25, is advantageously located in the side wall of the cupped flush portion of fitting l9, and has connected therewith conduit means such as the piping, indicated generally at 28, leading ;to a connection with the defecator seat I.

Defecator seat It is provided with a hollow rearwardly extending portion Ila having formed in the opposite lateral walls thereof, and preferably as integral projections therefrom, the conduit pipe connections Mb, Mb. The latter respectively connect with pipe elbows 21, 21, se-

cured in and projecting from the front wall llb of storage tank l1. As illustrated, the pipe extensions b, Mb, are respectively journaled for rotation within the pipe elbows 21, 21, in flow communication therewith, the resulting connection being made liquid-tight by packing nuts 28, 28, see Fig. 3.

The conduit pipe elbows 21, 21, extend through the front wall Nb of the storage tank, and may be held in place by nuts 29, 29, a water-tight connection being assured by interposed yieldable washers 30, 30. The conduit opening of one-of the elbows 21, may be sealed against flow of liquid by means'of a cap 32. The piping 2B, which establishes flow communication between flush fitting l9 and the defecator seat It, makes connection with the other conduit pipe elbow 21.

Advantageously, a control valve for regulating flow characteristics of the flushing liquid is provided in the piping 26. Such valve is indicated generally at 33, and preferably comprises a twoway valve body 34 formed with a valve seat 34a at one of its way openings, the valve seat desirably being frusto-conical, diverging toward the interior of the valve body. The control valve 33 may be interposed between short lengths of piping 26-l, 26-4, the required connections being made in any customary and suitable manner, such as is illustrated.

A valve element 35 comprising a valve head member 35a, configurated for cooperation with valve seat 34a, is adjustably secured in the valve body 34 by means of an enlarged threaded shank portion 35!). Such shank portion extends outside the valve body for manual manipulation in accomplishing adjustment of the valve. For this purpose, the outward expansion of shank portion 35b may be provided with a polygonally contoured recess 36 for the reception of a suitable tool. Rotation of the valve element 35 will cause valve head 35a to move inwardly or outwardly toward or from its valve seat a, thus regulating the size of the valve opening in accomplishing accurate control of the flow of flushing liquid therethrough.

Control of flow characteristics of the flushing liquid, as accomplished by the above described valve, is particularly desirable in connection with the use of the defecator seat II for supplying and directing all of the flushing liquid to the closet bowl.

To accord with the use of a closet bowl having no passages provided therein for the supply of flushing liquid. the overflow passage from the storage tank is preferably disposed above and in direct communication with the top opening of the bowl.

As clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, it is advantageous that the front wall l1b of the storage tank, extend forwardly over the rear of the top opening of the closet bowl. Such placement affords a simplified construction for the overflow passage of the tank, as well as affording communication thereof with the bowl in a simplified manner.

As illustrated, the overflow channel, indicated at 31, may be formed adjacent the inner face of the front wall Ilb by an enclosing wall, indicated at I10, which is advantageously formed integral with the material of the front wall. The enclosing wall extends from the bottom of the skirt portion of the storage tank to a location adjacent the top thereof, passing through the bottom recess l8. Thus the overflow passage 31 rises vertically above the top opening ll of the closet bowl, and has its discharge end in direct communication therewith.

At the stage of flushing operation, assum- I ing the whole of the flushing liquid to be supplied to the bowl through the rim jet openings of the flow-channel-providing structure, and assuming the bowl to be provided with the usual syphon trap seal, such flushing liquid effects a rise of the level of the fluid in the bowl until the increased head of fluid initiates and maintains syphonage flow discharge of the contents of the bowl into and through the trap seal, and thence into a soil pipe or equivalent.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to. specific forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined herein and in the claims that follow.

I claim:

1. In a defecator, the combination with a bowl arranged to receive waste matter and to discharge the same into a waste disposal system permanently aifixed thereto upon the introduction of a suitable volume of flushing fluid into said bowl, of means comprising a channel disposed above the rim of the bowl and arranged to discharge flushing fluid into said bowl and against the upper interior walls of said bowl, a reservoir of flushing fluid and means for conducting said flushing fluid from said reservoir to said channel.

2. In a defecator, the combination with a bowl arranged to receive waste matter and .to discharge the same into a waste disposal system permanently aflixed thereto upon the introduction of a suitable volume of flushing fluid into said bowl, of means comprising a channel for said flushing fluid disposed wholly above the rim of the bowl arranged to discharge against the upper interior walls of said bowl from such location above the above the level of the bowl, said means including a channel, means for pivotally mounting said channel with respect to said bowl, means for positioning said channel in operative relation to said bowl and above the maximum overflow spill level thereof, reservoir means for said flushing fluid, and means arranged externally of said bowl and operatively associated with said pivotal channel mounting means for conducting flushing fluid from said reservoir to said bowl.

4. In a defecator, the combination with a bowl arranged to receive waste matter and to discharge the same into a waste disposal system permanent ly aflixed thereto upon the introduction of a suitable volumeoi flushing-fluid into said bowl, of means for the discharge of the entire volume of flushing fluid into said bowl wholly from above the level of the bowl, said means comprising means adapted to be used as a seat for said bow-l, channel means operatively associated with said seat and provided with a plurality of discharge orifices directed against the upper interior walls of said bowl over substantially the entire periphery of said bowl, reservoir means for said flushing fluid, and valved passage means remote from said bowl for conducting said flushing fluid from said reservoir to said channel means for discharge into the said bowl.

5. In a deiecator, the combination with a bowl arranged to receive waste matter and to discharge the same into a waste disposal system permanently aflixed thereto upon the introduction of a suitable volume of flushing fluid into said bowl, of means remote from the bowl for the discharge of such volume of flushing fluid into said bowl wholly from above the level of said bowl, said means comprising seat means and therewith unitarily combined channel means for said flushing fluid, said channel means being provided with a plurality of discharge orifices arranged to be 

